Leo Durocher
From BR Bullpen
Leo Ernest Durocher (The Lip)
- Bats Right, Throws Right
- Height 5' 10", Weight 160 lb.
- Debut October 2, 1925
- Final Game April 18, 1945
- Born July 27, 1905 in West Springfield, MA USA
- Died October 7, 1991 in Palm Springs, CA USA
Inducted into Hall of Fame in 1994
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[edit] Biographical Information
"What are we at the park for except to win? I'd trip my mother. I'd help her up, brush her off, tell her I'm sorry. But mother don't make it to third." - Leo Durocher
Leo "The Lip" Durocher was a big name in baseball for decades, and was named to the Hall of Fame in 1994 after his death.
A weak-hitting shortstop, Durocher broke into the major leagues in 1925 at the age of 19 with the New York Yankees, and played a few seasons with the Yankees of Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig, appearing in the 1928 World Series. After some time with the Cincinnati Reds, he became part of the famous Gas House Gang with the St. Louis Cardinals in the mid 1930s, reaching the World Series again in 1934. He finished his career playing several seasons with the Brooklyn Dodgers, and started his long managerial career while still a player in 1939. During his playing days, Durocher made the All-Star team three times.
His major league playing career lasted from 1925 to 1945, while his major league managerial career was from 1939 to 1973. In spite of his long managerial career, he managed only four teams - the Dodgers from 1939 to 1946 (and part of 1948), the New York Giants from part of 1948 to 1955, the Chicago Cubs from 1966 to part of 1972, and the Houston Astros for part of 1972 and in 1973. His teams won the 1941 National League pennant, the 1951 National League pennant and the 1954 World Series (featuring a young Willie Mays), and his 1969 Chicago Cubs team had a famous fizzle. In addition to his managerial jobs, he was a Los Angeles Dodgers coach from 1961 to 1964.
As a manager, he won 2,008 games, losing 1,709 for a .540 winning percentage.
"Give me some scratching, diving, hungry ballplayers who come to kill you." - Leo Durocher
He was a very controversial figure, often described as "brash" and "abrasive". Although a light-hitting shortstop, he had an image as a tough-guy. He was rumored at one point to hang out with gangsters, and was suspended in 1947 for associating with gamblers.
His autobiography is called "Nice Guys Finish Last" after a comment he once made about Mel Ott as a manager.
- As a young ballplayer, Babe Ruth nicknamed him "the All-American Out."
- The first Dodger to ever get a hit in an All-Star Game.
- A story which may not be true, but I certainly hope is true: "Leo the Lip" didn't get along with umpires, and one umpire in particular he had problems with. One day, that ump had first base, and there was a close play there, when a player on Durocher's team tried to slide into the bag, and ended up bowling the umpire over. Dazed for a little bit, he was unable to make a call right away. As he started coming out of his fog, the first thing he heard was an old familiar voice saying "Well, was he safe or was he out?" Without hesitating he replied, "If that's you Leo, he was out!"
- He had four wives, and was married to actress Laraine Day from 1947 to 1960. Day knew nothing about baseball when she met Durocher, but became a very devoted baseball fan.
- Durocher was known for saying the famous phase: "Nice guys finish last"
- He was suspended from managing during the 1947 season due to his associations with gamblers. That year, the Dodgers won the pennant.
- Once during a 1953 New York Giants-Japan tour, Durocher, assuming the Japanese couldn't speak English, screamed from the third base coaching box for the runner at first to steal. However, the catcher Jun Hirota, who was a Japanese-American, spoke fluent English and gunned the runner by 20 feet.
- He was a TV commentator in the 1950's between managerial assignments.
- Durocher once played himself on The Munsters, a 1960s TV comedy about a ghoulish family living in suburbia. He is there to scout Herman Munster for the Los Angeles Dodgers. At seven feet and six inches tall and 380 pounds, Munster hits shots that dwarf the best efforts of Babe Ruth. Actor Fred Gwynne played the loveable, if child-like, version of Frankenstein's monster. Ultimately, Herman stuck up with his more fitting job at a cemetery.
[edit] Notable Achievements
- 3-time NL All-Star (1936, 1938 & 1940)
- Won two World Series with the New York Yankees in 1928 and the St. Louis Cardinals in 1934
- 3-time ML Manager of the Year Award (1939, 1951 & 1954)
- NL Pennants: 3 (1941, 1951 & 1954)
- Managed one World Series Champion with the New York Giants in 1954
- 100 Wins Seasons as Manager: 2 (1941 & 1942)
- Baseball Hall of Fame: Class of 1994
| Preceded by Burleigh Grimes | Brooklyn Dodgers Manager 1938-1946 | Succeeded by Burt Shotton |
| Preceded by Burt Shotton | Brooklyn Dodgers Manager 1948 | Succeeded by Burt Shotton |
| Preceded by Mel Ott | New York Giants Manager 1948-1955 | Succeeded by Bill Rigney |
| Preceded by Lou Klein | Chicago Cubs Manager 1966-1972 | Succeeded by Whitey Lockman |
| Preceded by Harry Walker | Houston Astros Manager 1972-1973 | Succeeded by Preston Gomez |
[edit] Further Reading
- Leo Durocher's Sitcom Career: The Beverly Hillbillies and The Munsters The Southpaw
[edit] Related Sites
MLB Article on Major League Tours to Japan
Categories: Player | Manager | Coach | Hall of Fame | Actors
